Island



(No Model.)

W. H. SAWYER.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH CONDUCTOR.

No. 571,539. Patented Nov. 17,1896.

w: Norms vzrcns co. wowmmmwunwomw o v i l l UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

\VILLIAM II. S/VYER, OF PROVIDENCE, RI'IODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THEAMERICAN ELECTRICAL IVORKS, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRICAL SW'lTCH-CONDUCTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,539, dated November17, 1896.

Application filed August 12, 1896. Serial No- 602,560. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. SAWYER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Providence, in the county of Providence and State ofRhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in ElectricalSwitch-Conductors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of said invention, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in electrical switch cordsor conductors designed more particularly for telephone service and whichwill possess superior advantages with respect to eiiiciency inoperation.

It may be observed that in making connections at the switchboard it isdesirable that each cord or conductor, after being used, will bedisposed of in such manner that only the plug remains in sight on thetable, and it has heretofore been customary to provide the elec- 2 5trical cords or conductors upon telephoneswitchboards with suitableweights, springs, or spring-actuated drums to take up the slack cord orconductors under the table to prevent the same from becoming tangled or0 twisted together while in use.

The object of my invention is to dispense with such appliances and toattain better results by means of the simplified constructionhereinafter fully described, and specifically 3 5 designated in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sect-ion of atelephone-switchboard, showing the application of my invention thereto;and Figs. 2, 3, and t detail views of my improved electrical cord orconductor.

In carrying out my invention the central core or basis of the cord orconductor is composed of a continuous elastic rubber A, surrounded by aloosely-braided covering earrying one or more bare wires or conductorsB, which in their turn are protected by the outside braided covering C,preferably of linen, as being the best for wear. The construction of thecord or conductor in this respeet, however, may be varied at pleasure,but the combination of the rubber core or other similar substance with abraided or wound covering containing one or more conductors toaccomplish the object desired is the essential feature of my invention,and such changes or modifications can be readily made without departingfrom the spirit of the same.

As shown in the drawings, I preferably use 6c two bare wires orconductors running near together on each side of the core, the object ofwhich is such that when one or more of said con d uetors break fromcontinued. use the others are readily available to make immediaterepairs.

In the operation of my invention the one end of each cord or conductoris connected in the usual manner with the line-wires, and the oppositeends pass up through suitable 7o openings in the switchboard-table D,where they are provided with the usual plugs E.

Each cord or conductor is designed to elongate about eighteen inches inevery six feet of its length, and the arrangement of the said cord orconductor with relation to its po sition upon the switchboard isdetermined thereby.

In making the different switch connections the elongation of the rubbercore decreases its diameter, which in turn allows the braided coveringto grow smaller and lengthen to enable the operator to make the desiredconnection. When the plug is removed from the spring-jack, the rubbercore returns to its normal position, carrying the braided wires andlinen covering with it and leaving the plug of the cord or conductor inposition on the top of the table ready for use.

If deemed desirable, a suitable friction- 9o roller may be interposed ata given point between the line-Wire and the switchboard-table to enablethe cord or conductor to have free play.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. An electrical cord or conductor composed of an elastic rubber core,surrounded by a inelosing Wound or braided covering, subbraided Webcarrying one or more Wires or stantially as and for the purposespecified. 1o Conductors, and the Whole ineiosed Within a In testimonywhereof I aiiix my signature suitably wound orbraided covering,substanin presence of two subscribing witnesses. tially as and for thepurpose specified. \VILLIAM II. SAWYER.

2. In a telephone-switehboard conductor, \Vitnesses: the combination ofan elastic rubber core; GILMAN E. JOPP,

with one or more wires 01' conductors, and an EDWIN O. POTTER.

